I’ve known for a few weeks that I was going to have to write this but as I’m learning this morning; that doesn’t make it any easier. The short version, for you folks that want the gist and just want to skim the rest, is that after five crazy years at Telltale it’s time for me to say goodbye. Molly got a really incredible job offer down in Los Angeles (Can’t say anything publicly about it yet but trust me: It’s really, really cool) and so we’re going to be packing up our stuff, our cats, and moving down to SoCal in the next two weeks.

When I left Rhode Island and moved out to California for school in 2007 I wrote a list of “Dream Companies To Work For.” I don’t remember exactly where it ranked, but Telltale was definitely in the top 3. My dream was to write point-and-click adventure games and Telltale had been making a name for itself doing awesome things with licenses like Sam & Max, Monkey Island, Homestar Runner, and Puzzle Agent. So, a few years out of school and intent on joining this adventure game renaissance, I put together a crazy application to send Telltale’s way.

I made this to match 90s computer game boxes as exactly as possible.

The "instruction manual" is actually my writing samples.

In hindsight, I have a very hard time not cringing at all of this.

That application helped me get in the door, first on the cinematic team, (the quote was "We have no idea exactly where you'll fit, but we want you around.") and then making the switch to writing a few months later. It was a crazy leap of faith that not every company would make, and I am so insanely grateful that they were willing to take that chance on me. I was lucky to arrive at Telltale right after the first season of Walking Dead (ironically, the only Telltale title I hadn’t played yet when I applied) and so I got to be around for a period of time when the company was trying to find itself, then find itself again, and maybe one more time after that. In this brave new world where more and more folks are jumping on the "interactive, choice-based game" train, I feel really lucky to have been part of the team blazing strange new trails.

I got to ship somewhere in the ballpark of 20 episodes over 8 different games in my time at Telltale, and that is pretty unreal. I may not have gotten to write for Sam & Max, Monkey Island, or Puzzle Agent (Maybe someday. Still hopin’.) but I got to live a childhood dream and write Bruce Wayne, Alfred, and the Joker for Batman: The Telltale Series. I got to contribute to Clementine's story. I got to have a hand in creating cute robots and putting words in Scooter’s mouth for Tales from the Borderlands. And I got to be part of crafting a world full of heart and comedy for two and a half wonderful seasons of Minecraft: Story Mode - Those blocky dorks will always hold a special place in my heart.

But even more than the stats and figures, even more than the games, what I’ll always cherish about Telltale is the amazing people I got to work with every day. I made some of my best friends in those trenches - hell, Telltale is where I met and married my very best friend - and I am so proud of all the great stories we told together. The company is starting an exciting new chapter and I can’t wait to be just a fan again so I can see what happens next.

I’m still not 100% sure what my next chapter’s going to be yet. For now, I’m heading to LA with Molly and taking advantage of having some time to think about it. But I know that no matter where I go or what I do in my career, I'll always be proud of the time I spent at Telltale.

We had fun, didn’t we guys? I know I did.

June 2013, the day before I started work. My dad helped me move to SF that weekend and we drove over to check out the office.